Automatic cathead



May 31, 1932.

W. L. FOSTER AUTOMATIC CATHEAD 2 my a;

a N/ E m I MW? e m s m.

Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE WALTER L. FOSTER, OFWHITTIER, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-FOURTH TO ROLAND R. CRUM, 0FWHITTIER, CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC CATHEAD Application filed May 5, 1930..Serial No. 449,768.

This invention relates to a cat-head structure having automatic meansfor winding a line thereon and then releasing the line. Catheads arecommonly employed in oil Well i .3 drilling rigs, and one common use isto operate a line attached to pipe tongs for loosening joints of pipe orcouplings. In such instances a limited swinging of the tong handle isdesirable, and in many instances a repetition of such movement or anoscillatory movement is desirable. Cat-heads which comprise a rotarywinding spool are employed to produce an oscillatory movement of thetong handle by securing a cable to the handle and snubbing the cable orrope around the cathead drum, then releasing the snubbing embrace of therope upon the drum.

The present invention has for its primary object the provision of acat-head structure wherein by operation of a control, the line may beanchored to the winding element and will be woundthereon, thenautomatically released. In additionto the broader object of thisinvention, there are certain details of design contributing to ease ofmanipulation, simplicity and compactness of structure. I

These objects together with other objects and correspondingaccomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiment of my inventionillustrated in the acompanyin'g drawings, in which Fig. 1 is anelevation of a fragment of a derrick showing my improved cat-headstructure, a portion of the operating shaft being broken out to make theview more compact; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown I inFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section as seen on the line 3-3 of Flg. 1; Figs. 4and 5 are views similar to Fig. 3 showing the winding member and couplerin section as seen on the line 66 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a section asseen on. the line 77 of Fig. 3.

Referring with more particularity to Figs. 1 and 2, a portion of aderrick is-marked'lO and includes posts upon which are mountedbearing-blocks 11. Journalled in the bearing blocks -is a drive shaft 12for the cat-head. Overhanging the post,.13 is' the usual cathead spool14. At one side adjacent the post legs of the frame.

other positions; Fig. 6 is a a 13 is the cat-head structure embodyinginy invention and denoted generally by 15. Extending along a crossmember 16 and around the post 17 is a control line 18. In Fig. 2, a pipeis marked 19 and a'pipe tong 20. Aline WlllCh may comprise a chain 'orcable is connected to an, eye in the end of the handle ofthe tong and ismarked 21, this line extendmg to form a part of the line which is to bewound upon the cat-head structure. 22 marks a line connected to aweight, not shown, and forming a counter-balance to return the handle ofthe tongs to its initial position.

Referring to all of the figures of the drawings, the inner flange of thecat-head spool is in the form of a sheave having a groove 23. The sidewalls of the groove are notched to provide an abutment tooth 24. Securedto, the cross member 16 by a lug is a frame 25 of T form in crosssection so as to provide side rails 25a. The frame partially encompassesthe sheave and is spaced therefrom. At one end of the frame is a'releasehook. 26 having an inner surface radially'inclined in relation to thesheave. The rails end short of the release member as indicated by 27. Atthe entry or other end of the frame, the rails end as indicated by 28.The middle le of the frame extends outwardly and has a sa dle 29 withinwhich may rest the line, which at this point is shown as formed by acable 30. Secured to theend of cable 30 is a coupler 31 having rollers32 adapted to ride on the rim of the sheave and provided with arms 33arranged so that they may straddle the Follower pintles 34 extendinwardly from the legs and are adapted to ride either upon the inside oroutside of the rails 25a. The rollers 32 are so disposed that they maybe placed in engagement with the abutment tooth 24 on the sheave asshown in Fig. 4. Normally the coupler lies in the position shown in Fig.3 with the rollers 32 disposed out of the path of the abutment tooth atthe entry end is a control slide 35, it being pivoted at 36. A- link rod37 is secured to a bell crank lever 38, the other end of the lever beingconnected by a rod 39 to a spring 40.

The spring 40 is connected to the control line 100 I 24. Pivotallymounted upon the frame notched 18 having a rin handle 41 for conveniencein operation an adapted to be hooked over a hook 42 on the post 17. Thearrangement is such that the slide 35 may be elevated from the sitionshown in Fi 3 to that shown in ig. 4 so as to raise t e coupler 31' intoposition such that the abutment tooth 24 will en age the rollers 32. Atthe same time, the follower pins 34 will have been raised so as to be inposition to be engaged by the underside of rails a. The operation ofraising the coufilermay be performed by pulling upon han e 41.

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and'3,the cable 21 is attached to a pipe tong as shown in Fig. 2. The cat-head1s rotated in, the direction of the arrow shown in Fi'..3. To cause theline to be wound upon t e cat-head,'handle 41 is pulled to create atension upon the con- 1 trol hne and convey motion to the slide which isthen raised to the position shown in Fig. 4 and resilently held in suchupper position by reason of the spring 40. This raisin occurs, if thecoupler is in registration witfi the notched portion of the cat-headsheave. If the coupler is not in registration with the portion, it willbe resilientl held against t e rim ofthe sheave until t e cathead hasrotated I suflicientlyto brin the coupler and notch into registration, wereupon the abutment tooth 24 engages the V rollers 32 and begins towind the line upon the sheave. Pins 34 follow the underside of rails 25aand winding continues until the cou ler reaches the release hook 26 asshown in ig. 5. Due to the inclined surface on'the releasehook, therollers 32 engage the latter causing the coupler to ride outwardly fromthe tooth and out of the path of the latter..

The rollers then ride upon the outer side of the rim of the sheave, andthe pins 34 are positioned to follow the outside of rails-25a. The pullupon the handle of the tongs 20 caused by the counter-weight line 22,will cause the line and con ler to be returned to its initial position,the follower pins 34 maintaining the coupler out of tooth engagingposition and thecouplerbeing returned to the position shownin Fig. 3. Iftension is maintained upon the control line, the cathead will aga1n pickup the coupler and repeat the movement. the movement is desired, itisconvenient to hook the rin 41 on the control line over the hook 42,2111f movement of the ro 21 will be repeated causing oscillation oi thetong handle.f"111is movementwill continue until .the tension upon thecontrol line is released,

' which is accomplished by unhooking the ring from hook 42. If a singlemovement of the rope 21 is desired, it is merely necessary to holdtension upon the control-line until the movement has been started andthen to release the pull upon the control line.

Where a repetition ofto said winding member, a release member in 7 thepath of said coupler abutment to dis-.

engage said coupler from said coupler abutment, retaining meansextending along said windmg surface and ending atsaid release member tomaintain said 'coupler incouplin position, and means to initlally lacesai coupler in engagement with sai cbupler abutment and retaining means.

2. A'cat head structure comprisinga winding member having a winding.surface for a line, a coupler abutment on said surface, a e to be woundon said member having a coupler for en' agement with said couplerabutment whens; to said windingmember, a release member in the path ofsaid coupler abutment to disengage said coupler from said couplerabutment, retaining means extending along said winding surface andending at said release member to maintain said coupler-in couplingpodtion, and control means to initially support said cou ler out ofengagement with said coupler a utment and retaming means, said controlmeans beingmovable to place said coupler'in engagement position for saidcoupler abutment .and retaining means. v 3. A cat head structurecomprising a winding member having a winding sur ace for a hne, acoupler abutment on said surface, a line to be wound'on said memberhaving a coupler for engagement with said coupler abutment whereby saidline may be anchored to said winding member, a gulde for said couplerextending partially along y said line may be anchored the windingsurface path to maintain said coupler in coupling position or out ofcoupling position, means at one end of said ginde enga mentby said toothwhereby to anchor no 'to mitially move said. coupler into engagesaid ineto sald sheave, a frame partially encom assmg saldsheave, said framehaving a re ease member to engage said coupler an lift the latter fromengagement with said tooth at the 'end of its travel along saidframeythere 'bein an entry end on said frame,retainin rails on saidframe to maintam said coup er in engagement with said 1 aae'avee I. theentry end of the frame to said release and means to initially place saidmember 7 with said tooth and coupler in engagement said retaining rails.

5. A. cat head structure. comprising a winding sheaveya coupler tooth ina flange of saidsheave, a line having a coupler for engagement by saidtooth whereby to anchor said line to said sheave, a frame partiallyencompassing said sheave, said frame having a release member to engagesaid coupler and lift the latter from engagement with said tooth at theend of its travel along said frame, there being an entry end on saidframe, guide rails on said frame to maintain said coupler in engagementwith said tooth durin travelof said coupler from the entry end 0 theframe to said release member and to maintain said coupler out ofcouplingposition on return travel, and means to initially place saidcoupler in engagement with said tooth and said retaining rails in.coupling placementposition, said release member bemg disposed to placesaid coupler in uncoupling position on said rails.

6. A cat head structure comprising a winding sheave, a coupler tooth ina flange of said sheave, a line having a coupler for engagement by saidtooth whereby to anchor said line to said sheave, a frame partiallyencompassing said sheave, said frame having a release catch to engagesaid coupler and lift the latter from engagement with said tooth at theend of its travel along said 1 frame, there being an entry end on saidframe, guide rails on said frame, said coupler havin followers to rideon the inner side of sai rails and maintain said coupler in engagementwith said tooth during travel of said coupler from the entry end of theframe to'said release catch and to ride on the outerside of said railsand maintain said coupler out of engagement with said tooth on return toinitial position, and control means normally supporting said coupler outof engagement with said tooth and operable to initially place saidcoupler in engagement with said tooth and with its followers on'theinner side of said guide rails.

7. A cat head structure comprising a winding sheave, a coupler-tooth ina flange ofsaid sheave, a line having a coupler hook for engagement bysaid tooth whereby to anchor said line to said sheave, a frame partiallyencompassing said sheave, said frame havm a release catch to engage saidcoupler and li the latter from engagement with said tooth at the end ofits travel along said frame, there being an entry end on said frame,guide rails on said frame, said coupler having followers to ride onthelinner side of said-rails andlmaintain said coupler in-engagementwith saichtooth during travel of said coupler from the entry end 0 tosaid release catch and to ride on the outer side of said rails andmaintain said coupler out of engagement with said-tooth on' its returnto initial position, and a control catch upon which said coupler rests,said control slide being normally positioned to hold said coupler out ofengagemen with said tooth and being movable to initially place saidcoupler in engagement with said tooth and with its follower on the innerside of said rails.

Eln witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed myname this 30th day of April, 1930. a

'WALTER. L. FOSTER.

